'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.'
Jeremiah 29:11-13

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Don't forget to enter my giveaway to win you a copy of the BOZ Christmas DVD, A WowieBOZowee Christmas! It is a family favorite of ours, and I would love for you to have the opportunity to win one for yourself!

You have 6 different opportunities to enter - in other words, you can enter up to 6 times easily!

Friday, December 14, 2012

Amazon.com Widgets**the picture link above shows the price as $29.99. However, if you click on the picture you will see it is $16.99!**This morning on Amazon I saw this Scotch Laminator is the Deal of the Day! It is a great purchase that I made many years ago. I have used it for home projects, church projects, kid projects, and gift projects. It has been such a useful item. And what better time to buy one than now, when it is less expensive than I have ever seen it!Be sure to check it out. Maybe it would be a good Christmas gift for yourself or someone else! (Just click on the picture to check it out.)Have you made any great purchase that became more useful than you ever expected?(Don't forget about entering my giveaway a few posts down! You can enter up to 6 times!)

My children have both always loved the Boz DVD series. If you haven't seen it yet, I suggest you check it out! Boz, the Green Bear Next Door, is lots of fun!

A WowieBozowee Christmas has Boz and the Baxter family enjoying the fun traditions of the Christmas season, including the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Christ. With wonderful music, lots of action, and positive character interaction, we give this DVD a big thumbs up! If you want to look closer at the DVD and other reviews, check it out on Amazon.

I have an extra copy that I want to give away! I will use Random.org to pick a winner! Here is how you can earn chances to win A WowieBOZowee Christmas:

1. Leave a comment sharing about a favorite Christmas DVD your kids love, or you love!

2. Subscribe to my blog (through the sidebar) and leave a comment telling me you did so.

3. Share and link this post on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you did so.

4. Share and link this post on your blog or website and leave a comment telling me you did so.

5. Twitter about my blog and this post and leave a comment telling me you did so.

6. Become a follower of my blog (in the sidebar) and leave a comment telling me you did so.

You can enter up to 6 times. I can only ship within the United States and Canada. The Giveaway ends on Monday, December 17, at 8 PM, in hopes that it can be delivered to the winner's home by Christmas!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Monday, December 3, 2012

I love walking through the living room and seeing Carter's toys left out and his prosthesis laying there - left from when he was playing with Caroline. Well, ok, maybe I don't love that he left his toys out, but I love the reminder that he is such an awesome kid. I love that he doesn't need his prosthesis for ANYTHING and that God has enabled him to do whatever he wants. It is also incredible to watch him use his prosthesis and to be excited when he is successful with it.

Just last night I was thinking about how, almost 4 years ago when I found out I was pregnant with Carter, I never would have imagined that this picture above would be of MY living room floor. That my child would be born missing his hand and forearm. However, it is incredible to see that God's plan was bigger than mine.

Just today I have learned of a family who found out the child they are expecting has some physical differences. It flooded my mind with memories of the day Carter was born and flooded my eyes with tears. I wanted to go back and read what I wrote concerning those days. I thought you might want to read it too.

If you start on this link and scroll all the way to the earliest date in 2010, that is the best place to start!My story.

Friday, November 30, 2012

According to Swagbucks website,Swagbucks.com is the web's premier rewards site. Powered by Prodege LLC, Swagbucks.com allows web users to earn virtual currency by doing the things they do every day - search the web, shopping at their favorite retailers, and by engaging in other activities such as phone recycling, submitting polls, and completing special offers. Swagbucks.com is the only place on the web to get what you want without ever having to spend a dime.We joined Swagbucks in February of 2009 and since then have earned over $400 in Amazon gift cards. It is super easy! You just search the web for things you already search on a day to day basis. I even search for websites I know the address for sometimes! You randomly earn swag bucks through searching and you can use those bucks to purchase gifts cards for places like Starbucks and Amazon, just to name a few.

If you are interested in signing up, it just takes a minute. And if you register through the link below then I will get swagbucks for referring you. Then, you can refer to your friends.

Check it out....maybe you can use the bucks for your Christmas shopping!

Thursday, November 29, 2012

My friend, Nikki, at Nikki's Notes, is doing a giveaway! If you would like to check it out, head over to Nikki's Notes and read about her five year blogging anniversary. Then, comment to share a big life change you have had over the past five years! I shared mine there, also.

What am I thankful for today? I am thankful for my life. I am thankful for each day and for the opportunity that I have to share each day with my husband, daughter, and son. I am thankful for my extended family and for friends.

Today I realized something else I am grateful for. I am grateful for the opportunity to lose weight and get back to living a healthy lifestyle. Years ago I lost weight through eating right and exercise, following Weight Watchers guide to getting me back on track. I said I would never gain that weight back. However, here I am again, 6 years later, saying that I need to lose weight. I have been saying it for years. I guess I have been disappointed that I haven't worked super hard to be healthy. And that is what it all comes down to. I want to be healthy. I want to be healthy to be a wife to my husband. I want to be healthy to be a mom to my two kiddos. I want to be healthy to be a daughter, sister, aunt. I want to be healthy to be a good friend. I want to be healthy to serve God wherever he puts me.

So, today, I am thankful for another day, another opportunity to get this right. I need encouragement. I need support. But most of all, I need to realize that each day is a gift, and I want to make the most of each one.

Thank you to my friend Crystal for sharing the Living a Changed Life blog with me. I hope it will help me with good ideas on my weight loss journey!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

I am not usually a fan of lots of different kitchen gadgets because I find I rarely use them. However, I have been receiving fresh garlic for months from Annie's Buying Club and try to use if often. The thing is, I didn't know how to properly cut up or mince fresh garlic.

Until yesterday.

I was at a MOPS meeting at our church and the ladies were talking about a garlic press. And that with a press, I don't even have to peel the garlic. I am so excited. I knew what I needed!

So, here is what I ordered this morning!

Do you have a garlic press? If not, order one and we can try it out together!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

I have always wanted to attend a conference for moms and today ran across one that sounds wonderful! I love reading books or writings by Sally Clarkson, and just today found out she does a Mom Heart Conference, just for moms! I would love to attend and be encouraged by her and other moms as I continue on the journey that God has given me at this time.

Here is a link to information about the Mom Heart Conference! Check it out and let me know if you have ever been to one, or something similar!

Monday, November 26, 2012

Today I wish a very wonderful, happy birthday to my dear, lifelong friend, Corrie! We have been friends "ever since third grade!" Our families were recently able to spend a day together. Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures together, but here are our cute kiddos!

Well, I did it! I finally ordered some ornaments for myself! I usually don't buy any ornaments, except one for the kids and Ryan each year. I love to surprise them with a new ornament the night we decorate the tree. However, I don't ever really pick out something for myself. Last year my sister-in-law shared an ornament she got and I loved it.

Below is a link to what I got. Can you tell I am excited? Thank you to my husband for ordering them for me tonight and finding a coupon code on top of that! It's from PersonalizationMall.com. If you want to order too, the code is VIP8639.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Last night we spent the evening decorating the Christmas tree, reading the Christmas story from the Bible, and talking about our Nativity. It was a great time together as a family! I loved unwrapping the ornaments and telling the kids the significance of each one. Caroline and Carter both did a great job hanging them on the tree!